Submarine vessel.



No- 832,646. PATENTED OCT. 9 1906.

' S. WIEBE.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

APPLIUATION I'ILED D3019, 1904. RENEWED MB.B.8,1906.

2 BHEETSSHBET 1.

WITNESSES: 8. f M r No. 832,646. PATENTED' OCT. 9, 1906.

s WIEBE.

'SUBMARINB VESSEL.

APPLIOATION FILED 1330.19, 19%. RENEWED MAR. 8, 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' WITNESSES: INVENTOR y /1 a 1 b) 7 ,fimrromvns UNITED STA 1. I.+1 S FATENT OF siouin) WIEBE, on NEW YORK, n. /Y., Assienonos oNanALr 'ro LLOYD B. nAWoR'rH, oF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.;.

- To alt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGURD WIEBE, a subject'oi the King of Sweden and Norway, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York,have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Submarine Vessels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention. relates to improvements in submarine vessels, and particularly to improvements in submarine torpedo-boats.

The main objects of my invention are to provide a vessel having a maximum strength and rigidity of shell with a minimum weight;

so that a number of them may be easily transported from place to place, either on' other vessels or by rail overland; to so arrange that the vessel may becontrolled throughout from one point, so that itmay be operated by a one-man crew; to provide for the proper balancing and maintaininu of the balance or poise of-the vessel under all conditions, and to provide several means for bringing the vessel to the surface after it has been submerged, such means not dependent one upon the ()tll0I,S() that in case one means should get out of order another means may be employed for the purpose.

My invention also consists in certain improvements in form, construction, and combination of parts, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe a submarine vessel embodying my invention and will then point out the novel 'ieatuies claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a submarine vessel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same looking toward the bowof the vessel. Fig. 3 is a view in central vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a central vertical transverse section of the same looking toward the bow.

In general the vessel comprises a globular hull 1, pierced longitudinally by a cylindrical tor edo tube or shell 2. At its upper end the hul is provided with a conning-tower 3, which may be conveniently of heavy plate glass and removably secured in position by any well-known means and by means of bolts Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 19, I904. Eenowed'Maroh 8. 1906. Serial No. 304,903-

Patented Oct. 9, race. I

globular hull. A valve 6 in the extreme upper portion of the conning-tower 3 may be operated from the interior to permit the escape of foul gases from within the vesselwhen the same is running awash.

A longitudinal keel 7 is prov ded, said. keel being preferably about the length of the torpedo-tube and preferably connected thereto and to the globular hull, whereby the various parts are stiilencd and reinforced by each other. The keel also forms a support for the bearings 8 of the drive shaft, as will be readily understood byinspectien of the drawings. Bilge-heels 9 may also be provided, as may be desired,'f0r the purpose of steadying the vessel, in a manner well known. i

Within the outer shell of the globular hull 1 is a globular shell 10, a suitable space being left between the shell 1 and the shell 10,

forming a chamber 11, which may c0nveniently be employed for the purpose of receiving the Water-ballast.employed for purposes of varying the Weight of the vessel as a Whole, so that it may submerged or brought to the surface at will. Further, it will of course be understood that this construction of double hull tends to largely strengthen the vessel as a whole, one acting as a reinforcement for the other, and,-furthen should. the outer shell 1 be damaged from any cause the inner shell might still be strong enough to prevent destruction of a vessel or the drowning of persons contained therein.

At its lower end the hull is provided with a rectangular chamber inclosed partially by a rectangularboX-like projection 12. The chamber 13 may conveniently contain storage batteries '14, such as may be employed for furnishing motive ower for operating the vessel. In vessels oi this description it is extremely desirable to keep the weight as low as possible, as the low center-of gravity shall tend toward stability. The storage batteries being very heavy and located at the lowest point of the vessel, and thus at the farthest point away from the" geometric center of the vessel, tend largely to this desired result. Immediately above the chamber 14 is arranged an electric motor 15,

geared or otherwise connected with the pro-- zoo . peller 17 being secured rigidly tot the shaft i may be employed for steering, 'if preferred As a matter of convenience, the electric motor 15 is shown on the starboard side of thevessel and a pump 22 is arranged oppositethereto on the port side. The pump may conveniently be of the centrifugal type, as shown, directly connected to a small electric motor, saidmotor receiving its current from the storage batteries, from which the motor- 15 also receives its current. The

ump 22 will have its suction-pipe 23 con-.

nected with the ch amber 1 1 between the outer and inner shells 1 and 10, and the discharge for said pump may be at any point exterior of the vessel-as, for instance, through the pipe 41, leading to the exterior at 42. This pump may then be employed for the purpose of drschargingwater from the chamber 11 for bringing the vessel upto the surface after it'has been submerged. A fresh-alr receiver 24 is located within the vessel for supplying fresh air to the operator therein, and this receiver may be charged by means of a compressor 25, operated from the motor 15. i

Located longitudinally of the vessel and upon either side of the torpedo-tube 2 are two main receivers 26 26, saidreceivers connecting through suitable pipe connections with carbonic-acid or other storage-tanks 27,

offiwhich any suitable number may be provided. The carbonic-acid tanks are controlled by means of a valve 28, whereby the tanks 26 maybe charged at will, and a valve 29 controls egress from the said receivers 26'. From the valve 29 a pipe 30 leads into the torpedo-tube, having a connection therethrough'at 31, so that by opening the valve 29 fluid under pressure may be discharged into the 'torpedotube for the purpose of launching the torpedo.

The'receivers 26 may be termer fmeasuring-rec'eivers, while the charging-tanks 27 constitute supply-tanks. A submarine vessel of this description may receive a number of "the small charging-tanks 27 from a warship, the said tanks containing gas under v exceedinglyehigh pressure, usually com-'- pressed to the form of a liquid. When connected up, the receivers 26 are arranged to hold just the right quantity of gas for filling the torpedo-tube to launch the torpedo at a pressure considerably lower than that in the charging-tank. Thus when it becomes time to launchthe torpedo the gas from the receiver or'receivers may be rapidly discharged into the torpedo-tube very much charge-pipe more quickly than itwould be possible to discharge gas directly from the chargingtanks. Furthermore, the proper quantity of. gas having been measured, exactly the right quantity will be employed, 'no more andno less.-

The forward end of the torpedo-tube is provided with a swinging head 32, said head ada ted to form a water-tight closure for the sai tube, but arranged to be opened by means ofa'worm and screw connection 33, operated bK a hand-wheel 34. The head 32 has a chec pressure from without, but will open to dis charge fluid from-within. An ordinary tor- -valve 35, which will close upon edo 36 is shown in Fig. 3 as'contained'with- 1n thetorpedo-tube 2 ,the torpedo having-its starting-trigger 37 located in the pathof a spring-d'etent 38 in the-tube, operating machinery.- of'the-torpedo may be automatically set in motion uponthe launching thereof.

I referably provide an auxiliary means whereby the v .85

for ischarging the water from the chamber 11 in case the pump. should fail to work from any cause, which means may-conven-' iently be a branch. pipe 39, connecting with the pipeline leading from the main reservoirs controlled by a valve 40. By this 26 and means fluid under pressure may be forced into the'chamber 11, the water contained in the said chamber being displaced'thereby; The water so displaced may pass out throughthe pum -inlet 23, the pump 22, and the dis- 41 there'ofor through other outlet, as may-be admitting airor other gas may also-be em-' ployed for admitting air or gas to replace the.

water discharged from the chamber 11 by the operation of the pump 22 when the pump is in working order. Water may be admitted into the chamber 11 by manipulation of the valve 43, which valve is arranged in a pipe 44 leading to the exterior of the vesselat 45 and to the chamber 11 at 46. The. air displaced by the admitted water may be discharged ated by interior of the vessel.

The operator for the vessel will be locat within the globulars hell above the torpedo tube 2 and receivers 26, a seat 50 being pro-i vided for him. In this position the operator may look through a window 51, such window being arranged immediately above a searchlight 52,so that By raising himself he may 7 look through the conning-tower. 3 and by this means look through the window 51', he can of course provided. This means forhe may be properly guided.

through a valve 47, suitably oper-. a hand-wheel 48, arranged atthe around in all directions. When looking only see in the direction in which he is going, In front of the operators seat 50 is a board 58, u on and in front of which the variousswitc es, gages, valves, and other devices are arranged. An opening 53 through the said board is arrangedin line with the Window 51,

' immediatelyin front of same, as is also the controlling-wheel 34 for the torpedo-tube a tank 24. When it is desired to submerge the 4 cover. Various gages showing pressures, as

well as the electrical indicators indicating amperage, voltage, &c., may all be arranged .upon this boardtogether with the various electric switches controlling. the operation of the motors, the search light, &c. The onlyf'valve or the. like not immediately in front of him is the valve 47, the operatinghandle 01 which is just above the shoulder of the operator and can be readil reached. Thus the whole vessel maybe readily manipulated by one man and While this one man maintains a constant position. This is important, because the poise of submarine boats is very delicate, and the movement of an operator or operators about thevesselis sufficient to seriously i-nterferewith' the poise or balance thereof.

I have shown horizontal rudders 54, which project from the sides of the vessel, and these rudders may be employed for the purpose of "causing the vessel to deflect upward or downward in'its course while moving. These rudders maybe employed to assist in the submergin'g .or raising of the vessel, if the vessel is in motion and, indeed, will besuliicient to raise the vessel when in motion, even though the ballast in the vessel. would be sufficient to submerge it when stationary, so that should the'outer shell be punctured and the compartment 1].;flooded without the possibility of relieving same the vessel might still be brought tothe surface and maintained there so long as it is kept in motion by proper manipulation of the horizontal rudders. I have shown conventional means for operating them in a transverse shaft 55, gearing 56,

and hand-wheels 57, arranged. at either side of the operators seat, but in practice, of

course, other mechanlsm may be employed,

as is'desirable. it

- In operating thevessel the operator will descend to within same through the removable conning-tower 3, which he will lock in place after he is in position. At this time. the vesselwill be awash, as is shown. in Figs. 3 and 4, :r m denoting the water-level. The operator will now open the valve 28 and .will' charge the reservoirs 26, so that he will have fluid-pressure for launching his torpedo or for other purposes. The vessel may now be run awash by merely starting. up the motor, and during this time the valve 6 may be open so as to freely admit fresh air, and fresh air thus admitted may becompressed in the vessel, the valve 6 will be closed and the compression stopped. Water will now be admitted into the chamber 11 by manipulation v with thevalve 43, air' from within the chem ber 11 being discharged. through the valve 47.

Thetaking on of the additional ballast will cause the vessel to sink,'and it willcontinue to sink until the chamber 11 is full of water or until the valve. 28is. closed. The vessel will now be running submerged, the operator watching his course through the window 51 and steering the vessel by means of the steering -wheel 21. When he desiresto fire a torpedo, he will open the head 32 by manipulation of the controlling-Wheel 34, and when the mouth of the tube is wideopen, so as to 85. Directly the torpedo is launched,@

gas under ressure, and the head 32 will then g be again 0 osed'. After the head is closed thevalve 29 may be opened sufliciently to allow the fluid under pressure to displace the water received within the tube during the launching of the tor edo, such water escaping through the ,va vs 35. A certain quantity of water may be retained in the tube, ifdesired, in order to prevent the vessel'risln' be;-

fore it is required to do so, the weight 0 the water retained being equal to the weight of the torpedo discharged. The, vessel may now be run submer' ed as before, but may be returned to the sur ace at will-by any one of several means.

of the pump 22, the pump, if desired, operat- First, the Water-ballast may be discharged from the chamber 11 by means ing against a vacuum in the chamber-11,0r

a rmay be admitted through the pipe 39 to replace the water thus forced out of the] pump. The second method of discharging the water may be employed, if desirednamely, the admitting of suflicient air or other gas'under pressure through the pipe 39 to force the water in the chamber 11 out through the pump, even though the ump be not working, or through any other ischar e provided. Third, the Water retained in t e torpedo-tube may be forced out by manipulatlon of the valve 29,-thevesse1 being thereby lightened sufficiently to rise to the surface, or, fourth, should all these'means fail the vessel may be brought to the surface while in motion by tilting the horizontal rudders 54.

By the foregoingit will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly compact structure, readily operated by one man, and that the structure is strong, rigid, and durable,- though relatively light in weight. splance, a vessel already designed by me of t e' t eight eet for the globular portion, with an For in-' e shown has an outside diameter of 5 'Ihis is simply large enough for the one-man crew I employ, so that the weight over all is far less than that of any other submarine boat of which I have any knowledge at the present time. It will be noticed also that rorthe vessel is'perfectly balanced and the balwithin the scope of my invention. 5

stantially It will of courseance and. polse thereof will be easily maintained. It will also be seen that I have provided abundant means for bringing the. ves so} to the surface, so that ordinary accidents or breaking down of machinery would not result in loss 'of the vessel and the operator therein, and even considerable damage to the hull will not necessarily flood the vessel or prevent the rising of same. v

be understood that while I have shown but one torpedo-tube I may employ more than one, if desired, and that various changes and modifications may be made It will also be understood that certain parts thereof may be employed with parts of other construction, if desired, and hence I do not wish to be limited only, to the precise details of con-. struction and combination of parts herein shownand described.

What I claim isv I 1. A submarine vessel comprising a substantially globular hull, and having a cylindrical torpedo-tube longitudinally arranged through said globular hull, and a longitudinal keel connected to sa dhull and to said tube, substantially as set forth.

. 2. A submarine vessel comprisin lar hull composed of two substantia ly spher ical shells spaced apart, and having a cylin-/ drical torpedo-tube penetrating both said shells longitudinally.

3. A submarine vessel comprisin a subglobular hull having a cy indrical torpedo-tn e penetrating same longitudinally, said hull'provided at its base with a chamber formed in-a portion projecting downwardly therefrom, said chamber weighted.

4. A'submafine vessel-comprisin a substantially lobularhull having a cylindrical torpedo-tu e penetrating same longitudinal ly, said'hull provided at its basewith a chamber formed in a portion projecting downwardly therefrom, and electric batteries arranged in said chamber.

5. In a submarine vessel, the combination with a globular hull comprising two concentric substantially s herical shells connected together but of di erent diameters whereby a space or chamber is left between them, of

means for admitting and expelling water I from'the space between said shells.

and steering .a globu-./

6. In a submarine vessel, the combination with a substantially globular hull, of a torpedoztube penetrating same lon reservoir-tanks arranged paralle torpedo-tube, a motor for itudinally,

with the.

driving the vessel arranged beneath the torpedo tube and the "j I reservoirs, and electric batteries arrange neath the said motor. q

7. In a submarine vessel, the combination with a torpedo-tube, of an air or gas measurreceiver arranged to connect therewith,

ing

an independent air or gas charging-tank and arran ed to connect with the said receiver.

8. n a submarine vessel, the combination with a substantially globular hull, a torpedotube carried thereby, means for propelling torpedo, charging one-man crew, the operating and controlling devices for the said propelling, steering, torand means for admitting and dispedo-launching and ballast-controlling 'mecl1- anism arranged within said chamber and all within reach from one point.

9. In a submarine vessel, thecombination' with a substantially globular hull, of shaftbearings projecting fore and aft from the hull, and a fin-keel connected to the hull and t6 the said bearings.

10. In a submarine vessel, the combination liquid ballast, of a chamber for a the boat, means for launching a with a substantially lobular hull, of a torpedo-tube arranged ongitudinally through said hull, shaft-bearings projecting fore and aft from saidhull, and a fin-keel connected to said hull, said shaft-bearings, and to the pro- .jecting portions of said torpedo-tube. 11. In asubmarine vessel, the combination y with a substantially globular hull, of a Tentangular projection at the base thereof, said rectangular projection inclosing a chamber arranged to receive a heavy wei ht, andafinkeel connected to said hull an interrupted by the said rectangular projection.

4 12. In a submarine vessel, the combination with a globular hull comprising two substantially cylindrical shells arranged one within the other and of different diameters whereby a chamber is left between them, of a torpedotube penetrating longitudinally through the said hull, and projecting fore and aft therefrom, a movable cap or closure for the forward end of said torpedo-tube, and means for admitting air or other gas under pressure to between the shells to expel water therefrom, and to the torpedo-tube to expel water therefrom when the said cap. is closed, substantially as specified.

' SIGURD WIEBE.

Witnesses.

D. HowARnHAYwoon, LYM'AN S. ANDREWS, Jr. 

